1. Classical Theatre Greece

2. Myths CharactersCharacters EventsEvents Supernatural elementSupernatural element Lesson: natural phenomenon? history of a group of people?Lesson: natural phenomenon? history of a group of people?

3. Ancient Greece City-state, “Polis”City-state, “Polis” AthensAthens SpartaSparta CorinthCorinth ThebesThebes

4. Ancient Greece

5. Historical Context Medea 435 BCE Medea 435 BCE Euripides 484-406Euripides 484-406 After SophoclesAfter Sophocles Lived in AthensLived in Athens Based on pre-existing collection of mythologyBased on pre-existing collection of mythology For Athenian citizensFor Athenian citizens Democracy, but many undemocratic institutions and practicesDemocracy, but many undemocratic institutions and practices

6. Jason and the Fleece Uncle, PeliasUncle, Pelias Faked deathFaked death Games at IolcusGames at Iolcus Fleece to become KingFleece to become King Argonauts: Orpheus, Heracles!Argonauts: Orpheus, Heracles! Adventures, oxen, dragon-tooth-soldiersAdventures, oxen, dragon-tooth-soldiers DragonDragon

7. Reading Check Who said: “I have been wronged, but I will keep quiet, defeated by my betters”?Who said: “I have been wronged, but I will keep quiet, defeated by my betters”? How long does Creon allow Medea to stay in Corinth?How long does Creon allow Medea to stay in Corinth? What does Mede vow at the end of Episode I?What does Mede vow at the end of Episode I? Where is Episode I set?Where is Episode I set?

8. Prologue Questions Lines 1-22: Lines 1-22: 1) How does the Nurse know Medea?1) How does the Nurse know Medea? 2) What did Jason do to Medea and their children, and why is Medea so angry about it?2) What did Jason do to Medea and their children, and why is Medea so angry about it? 3) Medea “invokes,” or calls on, the gods to intervene in her situation. What term we learned on Wednesday would be used to describe the use of the gods to solve the problems in the play?3) Medea “invokes,” or calls on, the gods to intervene in her situation. What term we learned on Wednesday would be used to describe the use of the gods to solve the problems in the play?

9. Prologue Questions Lines 23-47: Lines 23-47: 4) Does the Nurse believe that Medea is dangerous? Why do you think so?4) Does the Nurse believe that Medea is dangerous? Why do you think so? 5) In line 35, the Nurse says that Medea “hates her children.” We know that people in Athens were disturbed by the play– why do you think they were disturbed?5) In line 35, the Nurse says that Medea “hates her children.” We know that people in Athens were disturbed by the play– why do you think they were disturbed? 6) Do Medea’s children know of the horrible thing that has happened?6) Do Medea’s children know of the horrible thing that has happened?

10. Prologue Questions Lines 48-73 Lines 48-73 7) The Nurse says that “good slaves share in the disaster” of their masters. Do you agree? Why or why not?7) The Nurse says that “good slaves share in the disaster” of their masters. Do you agree? Why or why not? 8) Creon, the king of Corinth, plans to banish someone from this country. Who does he plan to banish? Why is this so upsetting?8) Creon, the king of Corinth, plans to banish someone from this country. Who does he plan to banish? Why is this so upsetting?

11. Prologue Questions Lines 74-97 Lines 74-97 9) Is Medea really dangerous?9) Is Medea really dangerous? 10) What does Medea mean when she asks how to “put an end” to her life?10) What does Medea mean when she asks how to “put an end” to her life? 11) Does Jason care about his wife and children? Why not?11) Does Jason care about his wife and children? Why not?

12. Prologue Questions Lines 99-130 Lines 99-130 12) The Nurse describes Medea’s anger as a “dark cloud of sorrow” “flaring up from its first flicker.” This is an example of figurative language used frequently in Greek plays. Is this a simile, a metaphor, or onomatopoeia?12) The Nurse describes Medea’s anger as a “dark cloud of sorrow” “flaring up from its first flicker.” This is an example of figurative language used frequently in Greek plays. Is this a simile, a metaphor, or onomatopoeia? 13) Medea damns her children and their father to hell. Is this the action of a woman who loves her children? Why or why not?13) Medea damns her children and their father to hell. Is this the action of a woman who loves her children? Why or why not? 14) The Nurse claims in line 126 that “excess never should have a place in our lives. It brings all the greater ruin.” Do you agree? Why or why not?14) The Nurse claims in line 126 that “excess never should have a place in our lives. It brings all the greater ruin.” Do you agree? Why or why not?

13. Prologue Questions Lines 131-158 Lines 131-158 15) The chorus enters through the paradoi. Where in the theatre would the paradoi be located?15) The chorus enters through the paradoi. Where in the theatre would the paradoi be located? 16) The Nurse says that Medea simply weeps and weeps over her situation. Given what we know about gender in ancient Greece, why doesn’t Medea just pick herself up and move on?16) The Nurse says that Medea simply weeps and weeps over her situation. Given what we know about gender in ancient Greece, why doesn’t Medea just pick herself up and move on?

14. Prologue Questions Lines 159-210 Lines 159-210 17) What did Medea do for Jason that makes his betrayal that much worse? (She says it in lines 165-166.)17) What did Medea do for Jason that makes his betrayal that much worse? (She says it in lines 165-166.) 18) The chorus represents the women of Corinth. They clearly want to comfort Medea, but do you think they are also scared of what she will do? Why or why not?18) The chorus represents the women of Corinth. They clearly want to comfort Medea, but do you think they are also scared of what she will do? Why or why not? 19) The Nurse compares Medea to several animals. Which do you think is more accurate and why?19) The Nurse compares Medea to several animals. Which do you think is more accurate and why? 20) Predict what you think Medea will do about this problem.20) Predict what you think Medea will do about this problem.

15. Playlist Line 194:Line 194: “But no one has found a way with music on the lyre with all its strings “But no one has found a way with music on the lyre with all its strings to stop the hateful torments people suffer —deaths and terrible fates that bring down our homes.” What is a current event that is a “hateful torment” that people are suffering?What is a current event that is a “hateful torment” that people are suffering? Can you disprove this line? What playlist would you make to help ease this suffering?Can you disprove this line? What playlist would you make to help ease this suffering? List at least three songs and any quotes that you can remember from them.List at least three songs and any quotes that you can remember from them.

16. Episode I Lines 214-265 Lines 214-265 1) Medea claims that “there is no justice in people’s perception,” that people can hate you on sight before getting to know you. Do you agree? Does that happen today?1) Medea claims that “there is no justice in people’s perception,” that people can hate you on sight before getting to know you. Do you agree? Does that happen today? 2) Re-read lines 229-233. It was customary at this time for the family of a man to receive a dowry, or payment, for taking on a woman as a bride. On top of murdering her brother and abandoning her homeland, what else did Medea give to be with Jason?2) Re-read lines 229-233. It was customary at this time for the family of a man to receive a dowry, or payment, for taking on a woman as a bride. On top of murdering her brother and abandoning her homeland, what else did Medea give to be with Jason? 3) The entire play is well-known for criticizing the gender roles forced upon men and women in ancient Greece. What is Medea doing when she says “They say that we live a life free of danger at home while they face battle with the spear. How wrong they are?”3) The entire play is well-known for criticizing the gender roles forced upon men and women in ancient Greece. What is Medea doing when she says “They say that we live a life free of danger at home while they face battle with the spear. How wrong they are?”

17. Episode I Lines 266-290: Lines 266-290: 4) Creon, the king, enters to banish Medea. How does she react?4) Creon, the king, enters to banish Medea. How does she react? 5) Why is Creon banishing Medea? Do you think he is right to do so?5) Why is Creon banishing Medea? Do you think he is right to do so? 6) What kind of king is Creon? (Is he a good king? An evil king? A religious king? A comical king?, etc.)6) What kind of king is Creon? (Is he a good king? An evil king? A religious king? A comical king?, etc.) Lines 291-314 Lines 291-314 7) Medea is sometimes called a witch or a sorceress; in order to help Jason win the golden fleece, she brewed potions and was willing to murder her own family for love. What do you think she means when she tells Creon that “because I have skills, I suffer the envy of some?”7) Medea is sometimes called a witch or a sorceress; in order to help Jason win the golden fleece, she brewed potions and was willing to murder her own family for love. What do you think she means when she tells Creon that “because I have skills, I suffer the envy of some?” 8) Medea admits that she has been “defeated by [her] betters” and begs Creon to let her stay. Do you think she really has been defeated?8) Medea admits that she has been “defeated by [her] betters” and begs Creon to let her stay. Do you think she really has been defeated?

18. Episode I Lines 315-356 Lines 315-356 9) How desperate is Medea to stay in this country?9) How desperate is Medea to stay in this country? 10) For how long does Creon agree to let her stay?10) For how long does Creon agree to let her stay? 11) Do you think Creon made the right decision in giving her more time to stay in the country?11) Do you think Creon made the right decision in giving her more time to stay in the country?

19. Episode I Lines 366-408 Lines 366-408 1) Who is Medea planning to kill?1) Who is Medea planning to kill? 2) Hecate is a witch goddess of the hearth and home. Why does Medea call on her to help her get revenge?2) Hecate is a witch goddess of the hearth and home. Why does Medea call on her to help her get revenge? 3) Medea claims that women are “most helpless for the good, but skilled craftsmen of all that is evil.” What does this say about how women were seen in ancient Greece?3) Medea claims that women are “most helpless for the good, but skilled craftsmen of all that is evil.” What does this say about how women were seen in ancient Greece?

20. Episode I Lines 410-445: Lines 410-445: 4) The chorus says that the rivers of justice and holiness are flowing backward, and “all things are being turned back” because “the pledge taken in the gods’ name is no longer firmly fixed.” Of whom are they speaking? What was his pledge to the gods?4) The chorus says that the rivers of justice and holiness are flowing backward, and “all things are being turned back” because “the pledge taken in the gods’ name is no longer firmly fixed.” Of whom are they speaking? What was his pledge to the gods? 5) Medea is left without a “man in [her] marriage bed.” This is an idiom. What does this idiom mean?5) Medea is left without a “man in [her] marriage bed.” This is an idiom. What does this idiom mean? 6) The chorus claims that the house of Medea’s father was supposed to shelter her from troubles. Does this correlate with what we know of gender roles in ancient Greece?6) The chorus claims that the house of Medea’s father was supposed to shelter her from troubles. Does this correlate with what we know of gender roles in ancient Greece?

21. Theatre Terms ParadosParados Left and right sideLeft and right side ImplicationsImplications

22. Gender Roles in Ancient greece DutiesDuties RightsRights Women and writingWomen and writing

23. Episode II Lines 446-474 Lines 446-474 7) Jason claims that he does not care if Medea insults him. Where does he draw the line?7) Jason claims that he does not care if Medea insults him. Where does he draw the line? 8) Jason also claims that he fought for Medea amongst the rulers of the city, and wanted her to stay. Do you believe him? Why or why not?8) Jason also claims that he fought for Medea amongst the rulers of the city, and wanted her to stay. Do you believe him? Why or why not? 9) Medea claims that she will “lighten her grief” by insulting Jason. How do you think he will react?9) Medea claims that she will “lighten her grief” by insulting Jason. How do you think he will react? Lines 475-520 Lines 475-520 10) Medea lists the many things she has done and sacrificed in order to be with Jason. How does this contribute to her anger and pain?10) Medea lists the many things she has done and sacrificed in order to be with Jason. How does this contribute to her anger and pain? 11) Medea also claims that Jason has not followed through on his oath, or promise, to the gods. Do you think this is true? Will this help or hurt his luck with the gods?11) Medea also claims that Jason has not followed through on his oath, or promise, to the gods. Do you think this is true? Will this help or hurt his luck with the gods?

24. Episode II Lines 521-574 Lines 521-574 12) Jason claims that his new marriage makes him “a great benefactor” to Medea and their children. Is this true? Why or why not?12) Jason claims that his new marriage makes him “a great benefactor” to Medea and their children. Is this true? Why or why not? 13) Why does Jason claim he married this new woman?13) Why does Jason claim he married this new woman? 14) How does Jason feel about women?14) How does Jason feel about women?

25. Episode II Lines 575-625 Lines 575-625 15) How does Medea feel about people who speak well, but lie?15) How does Medea feel about people who speak well, but lie? 16) Does Medea define happiness and marriage the same way Jason does?16) Does Medea define happiness and marriage the same way Jason does? 17) What does Jason offer Medea?17) What does Jason offer Medea? 18) Who does Medea think will help her make “a marriage that [Jason] will soon regret?”18) Who does Medea think will help her make “a marriage that [Jason] will soon regret?” Lines 627-622Lines 627-622 19) The chorus, women of Corinth, pray that they will never be struck by an arrow from the god of love. Why do they pray for this?19) The chorus, women of Corinth, pray that they will never be struck by an arrow from the god of love. Why do they pray for this? 20) The women of Corinth vow that Jason “will never be a friend of mine.” Why do these women hate him so much? (Hint: if they were men, do you think they would hate him just as much?)20) The women of Corinth vow that Jason “will never be a friend of mine.” Why do these women hate him so much? (Hint: if they were men, do you think they would hate him just as much?)